The typical foods of Guanajuato include the mining enchiladas, pork legs or Celaya cajetas.
The gastronomy of Guanajuato offers a great variety of flavors and textures thanks to the mixture between the native indigenous culture of the region and the one carried by the Spanish during the colonial period.
Guanajuato forms for the United Mexican States, being the fifth most populous state of the country. Its capital has the same name as the state, being also the most populated city.
It is located in the center of the nation, bordering Zacatecas, Querétaro and Jalisco. Its name comes from the union of several indigenous words that mean"in the hill of the frog".
Typical meals of Guanajuato: more outstanding dishes
The gastronomy of Guanajuato is the result of the mixture between the indigenous culture and the Spanish culture.
On the part of the former, the influences of the purpects and the Chichimecas. The Spaniards, for their part, introduced different ingredients such as pork or wheat.
1- Mining Enchiladas
Guanajuato has always been known for the mines it housed, especially for gold.
Precisely, there were born these enchiladas by request, according to the legend, of a worker who asked the cook to vary the food that made him to resemble that of his land.
The lady, in exchange, added the ingredients she had, and this type of enchilada was born.
To prepare them you will need corn tortillas, guajillos chiles, garlic, grated bread cheese and diced potatoes.
Apart they are seasoned with pepper and oregano. In the end, they are usually accompanied with marinated jalapenos.
2 Pacholas of Guanajuato
Guanajuato and Jalisco dispute the origin of this food, without it being clear in which place began to be elaborated.
The truth is that its name comes from a word Nahuatl "Pacholli"(tortilla), which can refer to both a corn tortilla and a ground beef steak. This last definition is the one that fits the guajajutenses pacholas.
Pacholas are ground beef, with broad chiles, bread, milk, cinnamon, clove and oregano added. All together is grinded and the final result is fried in oil.
3- San Miguel de Allende style ham
Originally from San Miguel de Allende, a beautiful town named by UNESCO"Cultural Heritage of Humanity", this dish is a tasty blend of the most diverse ingredients.
In them the importance of the Indian and Spanish influences in the gastronomy of the zone is reflected.
This food includes chicken and pork meat, plus some fruits, among which we find guava, banana or avocado.
In addition, it is supplemented with other ingredients such as olives, peanuts or beets. Everything is seasoned with a vinaigrette and served cold.
4- Cuete enacahuatado
Another of the typical dishes of the State is the cachacada, whose protagonism is borne by the dry fruit that gives it its name.
The peanut has been used in Mexico for almost 8000 years and the Spaniards took it to Europe, where it was not known, after the conquest, to see it in the markets of the country.
There are small variants of the dish, depending on where you prepare, but the base is made with cuete, a cut of beef.
In addition, you add bacon and ham. For the sauce, you use tomatoes, cinnamon, onions, bread, lard and, of course, peanuts.
5- Cajeta of Celaya
The recipe of dulce de leche carried by the Spaniards, plus the abundance of goats in the region, made, since the viceroyalty, prepared this sweet so typical of Celaya.
Its name was given by the wooden box used to package the product and that collaborates in giving it its final flavor.
The main difference with dulce de leche is that, instead of making it with cow's milk, in Guanajuato they use that of goat.
So popular is that the government of the country named it in 2010"The dessert of the Mexican Bicentennial".
References
- Guanajuato state government. Typical food. Obtained from guanajuato.gob.mx
- Alonso, Jesus. Typical food of Guanajuato. (September 11, 2017). Obtained from travelreport.mx
- Sorensen, Lars. Cajeta: A Short History and Recipe. Retrieved from thelatinkitchen.com
- Guanajuato Guide. Mexican Cuisine. Obtained from whatguanajuato.com
- Food & Wine. Mexico's Heartland | Guanajuato. Obtained from foodandwine.com